Richard Edwards: A Career Built on Curiosity and Challenge
If you have previously worked with ADM on a complex project, there is a good chance that Richard Edwards was involved. From instrumentation to test and radiation safety, Richard’s skills and technical know-how have been a significant part of ADM’s expertise.
As ADM celebrates its 40th anniversary, we also recognise an important personal milestone, which is Richard’s upcoming retirement, whose 18 years with ADM reflect the technical curiosity and teamwork that continue to thrive in the company’s culture.
Learning by “Osmosis”
Before joining ADM, Richard brought experience in industrial electronics and instrumentation, but radiation safety and monitoring presented an entirely new field. Like many who have grown with ADM, his expertise developed through practical experience and a willingness to take on unfamiliar challenges.
He often referred to it as “learning by osmosis,” where knowledge is gradually absorbed through working closely and constantly with the new technology.
Richard’s Field Projects
With guidance from experienced colleagues including Glenn and Colin, Richard quickly became involved in a wide range of radiation projects. These ranged from repairing small radiation gauges to installing large Blood Bank irradiators weighing around four tonnes. These projects often required careful planning, strong technical expertise, and specialised equipment.
Transporting and positioning these units were often as complex as the technical work itself. Heavy-duty lifting jacks were used to manoeuvre the irradiators through buildings with teams guiding every movement. In one installation, work had to be paused when a supposedly reinforced floor began to give way under the unit’s weight, delaying commissioning until structural upgrades were completed by the customer.
Field projects frequently took Richard across Australia. During one assignment in Western Australia’s mining regions, he, and a colleague Grant, installed radiation monitors at scrap metal weighbridges in Karratha and Port Hedland. Working in extreme heat during the mining boom meant long days, basic accommodation in transportable “dongas,” and a simple routine focused entirely on the job.
Despite the conditions, these projects highlighted the precision of ADM’s technology. The monitoring systems were sensitive enough to detect even minute radiation sources. At one site, repeated alarms were eventually traced not to contaminated scrap metal, but to a truck driver who had recently undergone medical radiation treatment — a reminder of how finely tuned the equipment was.
Across his time at ADM, Richard found that variety was a constant. Projects ranged from site radiation surveys to complex engineering collaborations. In one case, a suspected contamination incident turned out to be harmless naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) within building materials — slightly above background radiation but still completely safe.
One particularly memorable project involved supporting a prominent university’s Civil Engineering Department in developing a research rig designed to simulate conditions six kilometres underground. ADM supplied a data logging system capable of monitoring temperature, pressure, and rock movement as superheated water was injected into rock samples under extreme pressure — a project that is still undergoing testing until today.
Continuous Learning and the Journey Ahead
For Richard, the continual learning has always been part of the reward working at ADM.
“I always say a day hasn’t been wasted if you’ve learned something,” he reflects.
During his 18 years with the company, Richard has watched ADM grow significantly — expanding across multiple premises and interstate locations while maintaining the close-knit culture that defines the business. As a proudly family-owned company, ADM has long emphasised collaboration, support and long-term relationships with both employees and customers, values that Richard believes set the organisation apart.
As he prepares for retirement, Richard leaves behind not only technical contributions but also a legacy of practical problem-solving, mentorship, and quiet dedication. His career reflects the spirit that has guided ADM, embracing new challenges, learning continuously, and working together to find solutions.
"It is a formula that has served ADM well and will continue into the future."
At ADM, we are excited for what lies ahead for Richard and wish him every success in the journey ahead.
